EL SEGUNDO — The play was designed for quarterback Justin Herbert to run around the right side of the Chargers’ formation on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee Titans’ 4-yard line this past Sunday. The blocking broke down in front of Herbert, though, and so he was forced to improvise, to think on his feet.
No problem.
Herbert found a hole in the line to his left and darted through it, picking up the first down and then a touchdown for a 13-7 lead with 1:55 remaining in the first half. The Chargers were never seriously threatened and, soon enough, they secured a 27-17 victory over the Titans, their third consecutive win.
It wasn’t the first time Herbert created something from nothing this season and, mostly likely, it won’t be the last. For example, his 38-yard scramble down the right sideline in the closing minutes of the first quarter of the Chargers’ 26-8 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 27 stands out among all his runs.
After all, it was the longest run in his five-year NFL career and it ignited the Chargers’ offense, which had been pretty lackluster to that point in the game, late in the first quarter. The Chargers went on to assume control of the game in the quarters that followed.
Recent runs have been just as impactful, though.
Maybe even more so.
It’s been an unmistakable sign that Herbert’s sprained right ankle is sound again. He injured it during the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and aggravated it during their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Time, rest and treatment have allowed him to run freely again.
A versatile, mobile Herbert gives the Chargers more ways to inflict damage on opposing defenses and more reasons to believe they can be a playoff contender. The Chargers are 6-3, having won four of their past five games, going into Sunday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6).
“I think you have to have a really, really good quarterback, a guy who knows how to win games in a lot of different ways,” Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday. “It’s not always going to be the same cookie-cutter way. I, personally, don’t think there’s many like (Herbert) in this world.”
Now that Herbert is back to 100%, there are more plays to unlock.
“We’re just getting started,” Roman said. “I made that comment (in early October). I felt that way in my heart. It felt like we were just scratching the surface. But to have a guy like him is unbelievable as far as a cornerstone of a franchise goes. As good as he is, and as good as he can be, the sky’s the limit.”
Herbert’s running figures to be an ongoing X-factor. He has rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown on 36 attempts. Only running backs J.K. Dobbins, with 670 yards and six touchdowns on 141 carries, and Gus Edwards, with 168 yards on 48 carries, have rushed for more for the Chargers.
It’s not that he’ll ditch the passing game for the running game, mind you. The scrambles will come when all else fails, the protection breaks down and the receivers are all covered. The running game will be in addition to the passing game, a situational opportunity to make some magic with his legs.
Plus, with Herbert standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 236 pounds, the question is whether he is absorbing a hit or delivering one. After all, he’s taller than most defensive backs and weighs about the same as many linebackers that he might encounter on his scrambles from the pocket.
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“It depends on the situation,” Herbert said. “If it’s an opportunity when you can extend a play and be smart about it and not take any hits, I’ve felt like I’ve done a good job of avoiding big hits. I understand that I need to be smart and be wise about the battles I’m picking. If there are any yards to be gained, whether it’s making a move and continuing up field, I’ll do whatever I need to.”
When relayed outside linebacker Khalil Mack’s comments Sunday that Herbert was doing some (bleeping) running with the ball that he had never seen before, Herbert feinted confusion, saying, “In a good way or a bad way? I’ll have to clarify that,” before laughing to indicate he was in on the joke.
In fact, Herbert’s running is no joke.